title: Measuring the plasticity of social approach: a randomized controlled trial of the effects of the PEERS intervention on EEG asymmetry in adolescents with autism spectrum disorders.
abstract: This study examined whether the Program for the Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills (PEERS: Social skills for teenagers with developmental and autism spectrum disorders: The PEERS treatment manual, Routledge, New York, 2010a) affected neural function, via EEG asymmetry, in a randomized controlled trial of adolescents with Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and a group of typically developing adolescents. Adolescents with ASD in PEERS shifted from right-hemisphere gamma-band EEG asymmetry before PEERS to left-hemisphere EEG asymmetry after PEERS, versus a waitlist ASD group. Left-hemisphere EEG asymmetry was associated with more social contacts and knowledge, and fewer symptoms of autism. Adolescents with ASD in PEERS no longer differed from typically developing adolescents in left-dominant EEG asymmetry at post-test. These findings are discussed via the Modifier Model of Autism (Mundy et al. in Res Pract Persons Severe Disabl 32(2):124, 2007), with emphasis on remediating isolation/withdrawal in ASD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Marquette University, PO Box 1881, Milwaukee, WI, 53201-1881, USA, amy.vanhecke@marquette.edu.
authors.forename: Amy Vaughan
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Van Hecke
authors.forename: Sheryl
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Stevens
authors.forename: Audrey M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Carson
authors.forename: Jeffrey S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Karst
authors.forename: Bridget
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dolan
authors.forename: Kirsten
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Schohl
authors.forename: Ryan J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: McKindles
authors.forename: Rheanna
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Remmel
authors.forename: Scott
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Brockman
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology; D058256:Brain Waves / Q000502:physiology*; D002648:Child; D002659:Child Development Disorders, Pervasive / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011614:Psychotherapy, Brief; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group; D012919:Social Behavior